Lubrication apparatus for twister rings



Aug. 24, 1948. F. THOMASON LUBRICATION APPARATUS FOR TWISTER RINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1946 Elma/um FALLS L. THOMASON mJ $1 k. S,

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Aug. 24, 1948. F. THOMASON LUBBICATION APPARATUS FOR TWISTER RINGS Filed June 20. 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FALLS L. THo/wAsoN Patented Aug. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUBRICATION APPARATUS FOR TWISTER RINGS 18 Claims. 1

This invention relates to lubrication app for textile machines, and more especially to the twister rings employed in twisting frames and the means for lubricating the ring and traveler.

Heretofore, various attempts have been made to lubricate rings and travelers by having recesses in the inner face of the rings with wicks therein connected to a source of lubricant, whereby the lubricant will flow by capillary attraction to the face of the ring to be wiped by the traveler as it revolves around the ring. Various other forms of lubrication of rings and travelers have been tried, but none seem to be of such merit as to have a general application in the textile mills,

It is an object of this invention to provide a vertically movable member associated with the ring rail of a twister frame and the like, and having a plurality of oil cups therein, each oil cup being adapted to encircle the lower portion of a twister ring and the like, and in spaced relation thereto, said annular oil cup being in the form of a trough whose side walls are in spaced relation to the inner and outer and lower edges of the twister rings, and into which a lubricating oil is adapted to be placed and whose level may be high enough. if desired, for the lower end of the traveler to contact the lubricant at times; or, if the oil level should be lower than the contact level of the travelers, the suction and air currents created within the annular oil cup by the travel of the traveler will create oil fumes and oil vapor and this will be deposited on the inside surface of the ring and will cause the proper lubrication of all surfaces of the ring which are contacted by the traveler.

Even when rings are lubricated by wiping grease on them, the reservoir acts as container for the lubricant and prevents throwing of lubricant away from rings, thus lubricating frequency is lessened.

It is another object of this invention to pro vide a vertically movable member associated with the lower side of a ring rail on a twister frame and the like, and having a plurality of annular lubricant cups therein adapted to contain a lubricant, and the walls of each lubricant cup having inner and outer side walls, which are in spaced relation to the downwardly projecting portion of the ring, so that a lubricant can be poured into the annular oil cups to thereby provide lubrication of the ring and traveler.

Heretofore, there have been used in th textile mills, two types of twister rings. One is the non-lubricated type, which, to lubricate the same, rom'lires stopping of the machine, sometimes lie-- tween dolls, and smearing greas On the interior and lower edges of the rings. Any surplus grease. when the machine is started, is many times thrown off into the yarn being processed or onto other portions of the machinery, thus damag ing the yarn, and where it strikes onto the floor or portions of the machinery it tends to collect lint which creates serious fire hazards and also requires frequent cleaning.

In the other type of textile ring heretofore used, grooves are cut in the inside surface of the ring and in some instances, no grooves are cut, but a hole penetrates the ring. However, in both instances a capillary wick is led through a hole in the ring, and into the grooves, if they are present, and this capillary wick is led to a source of lubricant. The system of capillary lubrication of rings has not proven satisfactory in all instances. By use of my invention, all the above recited defects are overcome, in that the lubricant can be renewed as desired through th oil holes leading into the oil cup without stopping the machine. It has also been proven by actual tests, that with my improved apparatus for lubrication of twister rings that one deposit of lubricant will last for several days and sometimes a week, whereas, in th ordinary type of textile ring where grease i smeared onto the interior surface of the ring, it is necessary to grease these rings at least once a day and sometimes oftener, thus resulting in great loss of time in stopping the twisting frame for so long a, time during the week for the application of lubricant. Also, the machines must be stopped for frequent cleaning.

This invention, by preventing lubricant from being thrown onto the floor and parts of the machinery, lessens the fire hazard in mills.

This invention can be used on wool spinning frames as well as on cotton and rayon twister. In fact, it can be used on any machin employing the vertically disposed traveler.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a section of a ring rail for a twister frame and showing portions of the same broken away and with my in- 3 the same line as Figure 3 but showing the lubrication apparatus in lowered position;

Figure 5 is an elevation looking from the rear side of Figure 2 or from the upper side of Figure 1 and showing the manner in which the suspending means for the lubrication apparatus is pivoted on the ring rail.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a portion of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale and showing a portion of the ring rail broken away;

Figure 7 is an elevation looking from the lower side of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 9-9111 Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, but showing a modified form of Figure 9 and showing how the lifter rods may be secured to the ring rails.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral i0 indicates a section of a ring rail for a twister frame and the like. These ring rails have a downturned front flange and a downturned rear flange, and it is of the conventional type of ring rail. The sections of a ring rail in a twister frame are secured to each other in end to end relation in any suitable manner for the entire length of the twister frame. These ring rails have therein a plurality of rings i i which are secured by pressed fit, or otherwise, in suitable openings in the ring rail. Each of these rings H has mounted thereon a conventional traveler l2, through which a strand of yarn 3 is passed as it is wound onto a bobbin or yarn package I! being formed by the twister, as is more fully illustrated in my co-pending application Serial No.

- 638,603, filed January 2, 1946.

The ring rails are moved upwardly and down wardly relatively to the bobbin rotating within the rings by means of suitable lifter rods M, which may be threaded, as at ii, at their upper end and screwed into a suitable threaded hole in the lower surface of the ring rail Hi, if desired, but they may be provided with a suitable arm l6, which is secured to the upper end of the lifter rods and the lower surface of the ring rail between the front and rear flanges rest on these lifter rods. The lifter rods are moved up and down .by a suitable conventional builder motion.

Heretofore, the interior surfaces of the rings II have been lubricated, either by a wick previously described, or by smearing grease or lubricant thereon. In the present invention, I provide a plurality of vertically disposed posts or bolts 20, which have heads on their lower ends and whose upper ends are preferably threaded into suitable threaded holes in the ring rail. There are usually a pair of these bolts near each end of each section of the ring rail, or they can be spaced at any desired intervals, as desired. On these ports or bolts 20, I mount an elongated trough member 2|, which has suitable holes therethrough, through which the bolts or posts 20 slidably penetrate.

Member 2| has a plurality of annular grooves 22 therein, and surrounded by the annular grooves 22 is an annular upwardly projecting portion 23 forming an opening I! through which the bobbin i1 projects, while being in spaced relation thereto. It is to be noted that the top edge of the annular portion 23 is at a higher elevation. than the outer edge of the annular grooves 22. The size of the annular portion 23 is of such diameter as to permit clearance between its outer s r ce 4 and the traveler l2 so asto not interfere with the motion of the traveler l2 on the ring H,

For each pair of annular grooves 22, there is provided a bore 25 covered by a transparent disc 28 having an oil hole 21 through which a lubricant 29 maybe deposited into the bore 25. There is also provided for each annular well 22, a bore 28 which causes a lubricant to flow from well 25 into two adjacent wells 22.

Any suitable meanscan be provided for raising the member 2| upwardly and holding it in operative position, but in the drawings. I have shown a preferred means for accomplishing this result. in which I secure to the lower surface of the rear flange of the ring rail Ill a block 80,

near each end of each section of the ring rail,

and secured thereto by any suitable means, such as screws 3|. In the ends of these blocks, I mount a screw 32 on which is pivoted arms 33. Each of these arms 33 has a projecting or cam portion 36 adapted to engage the lower surface of the member 2| in a raising and lowering operation. The front ends of the members 33 have iaterally turned ears 35 to which are secured an elongated bar 36 by any suitable means, such'as screws 31. The members 33 also have at their rearward ends projecting portions 42 which, when. the members 33 are lowered, engage the rear flange of ring rail Hi to restrict the downward swing of the members 33 and bar 38. Substantially at the middle of the bar 36, I pivot, as at 38, a latch 39 having an arcuate slot 40 therein which is adapted to hook over an outwardly projecting pin 4| secured on the front surface of the front flange, of the ring rail. Member 2| has transverse grooves 43 in its upper surface for receiving arms it, when the member 2| is in fully raised position.

In my co-pending patent application, Serial No. 638,603, filed January 2, 1946, there is shown and described an annular oil well which is individual to each ring. In that form of the invention, it was necessary to detach the lubricant containing well for each ring, when it was necessary to insert new travelers on the rings. In the present invention, by unlatching member 89 from pin 4| the weight of the member 2| causes all the parts to move downwardl from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4. and thus sufllcient clearance is provided for removal and installation of the travelers.

I have found by experience that the best lubricant to use in this invention, as well as in the said pending application, is a non-fluid lubricant, because the great speed of the traveler creates oil vapors which lubricate the ring and yet the lubricant is not thrown out of the annular wells 22 by contact with the lower portions of the travelers moving around the rings. It is to be understood, however, that any type of lubricant, such as a light oil may be used.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. Lubrication apparatus for twister rings mounted in a ring rail comprising a member mounted for vertical movement below the ring rail, and having a plurality of annular wells therein for containing a lubricant, means for raising said member and holding it in a position to where the lower edges of the rings will project into the annular-wells, said member when released moving downwardly by gravity below the rings to where it will not impede progress in removing and installation of newtravelers.

2. Apparatus for lubricating rings and travelers in a ring rail for a twister frame and the like comprising a member disposed below the ring rail and having a plurality of annular wells therein of greater diameter than the diameter of the rings, means slidably mounting said member for vertical movement relative to the ring rail, means for holding the member in elevated position to cause the annular wells to encircle the lower portion of the rings, said member when released moving downwardly away from the lower edges of the rings in the ring rail.

3. In a ring rail for a twister frame and the like, apparatus for lubricating the rings and travelers comprising a member mounted below and vertically movable with relation to the ring rail, said member having a plurality of annular lubricant recesses therein adapted to fit around but in spaced relation to the lower edges of the rings when in raised position and adapted to be completely removed from the lower edge of the ring rail when in lowered position, and means for holding said member in elevated position.

4. In a ring rail for a twister frame and the like, apparatus for lubricating the rings and travelers comprising a member mounted below and vertically movable with relation to the ring rail, said member having a plurality of annular lubricant recesses therein adapted to fit around but in spaced relation to the lower edges of the rings when in raised position and adapted to be completely removed from the lower edge of the ring rail when in lowered position, and means for holding said member in elevated position, said ring rail having an oil passageway therein leading from the exterior surface of the ring rail to said annular wells whereby lubricant can be admitted to the annular wells from the exterior of the ring rail.

5. Lubrication apparatus for twisting and spinning rings having a ring rail provided with rings, and vertically disposed travelers thereon, comprising a member disposed below the ring rail and having a plurality of annular wells therein of greater diameter than the diameter of the rings, said ring rail and member being vertically movable relative to each other, means for holding the member and ring rail together to cause the annular wells to encircle the lower portion of the rings and for separating the ring rail and the member to a position where said member will not impede progress in removing and installation of travelers.

6. Lubrication apparatus for twisting and spinning rings having a, ring rail provided with rings and vertically disposed travelers thereon, comprising a member mounted for vertical movement below the ring rail and having a plurality of annular wells therein for containing a lubricant, means for raising said member and holding it in a position to where the lower edges of the rings will project into the annular wells, said member when released moving downwardly by gravity below the rings to where it will not impede progress in removing and installation of new travelers, said ring rail having a plurality of lubricant passageways for admitting lubricant from the exterior of the ring rail to said annular wells.

7. Apparatus for lubricating the rings and travelers in a ring rail comprising a member mounted below and vertically slidable with relation to the ring rail, said member having a plurality of annular lubricant recesses therein adapted to fit around but in spaced relation to the lower edges of the rings when in raised position and adapted tobe completely removed from the lower edge of the ring rail when in lowered position, and means for holding said member in elevated position.

8. Apparatus for lubricating the rings and travelers in a ring rail comprising a member mounted below and vertically slidable with relation to the ring rail, said member having a plurality of annular lubricant recesses therein adapted to fit around but in spaced relation to the lower edges of the rings when in raised position and adapted to be completely removed from the lower edge of the ring rail when in lowered position, and means for holding said memher in elevated position, said ring rail. having an oil passageway therein leading from the exterior surface of the ring rail to said annular wells whereby lubricant can be admitted to the annular wells from the exterior of the ring rail.

9. Lubrication apparatus for twisting and spinning frames having a ring rail provided with rings and vertically disposed travelers thereon, comprising a member disposed below the ring rail and having an annular well therein whose outer wall is of greater diameter than the outer diameter of the ring and whose inner wall is of lesser diameter than the inside diameter of the ring, means slidably mounting the member for vertical movement relative to the ring rail, stop means on the lower ends of the slidably mounting means for limiting downward movement of the member, means for holding the member in elevated position to cause the annular well to encircle the lower portion of the ring, said member when released moving downwardly by gravity away from the lower edge of the ring in the ring rail.

10. Lubrication apparatus for twisting andspinning frames having a ring rail provided with rings and vertically disposed travelers thereon, ,comprising a plurality of vertically disposed members projecting downwardly from the lower surface of the ring rail, a member slidably mounted for vertical movement on said supporting members below the ring rail and having an annular well therein for containing a lubricant, means for raising the member and holding it in a position to where the lower edge of the ring will project into the annular well, said member when released moving downwardly by gravity below the ring to where it will not impede progress in removing and installing of new travelers, stop means on the lower ends of the vertically disposed members for limiting downward movement of the member having the annular well therein, said ring rail having a lubricant passageway extending therethrough and disposed outside the ring for admitting lubricant from the top portion of the ring rail to the annular well.

11. Lubrication apparatus for twisting and spinning rings, having a. ring rail provided with rings and vertically disposed travelers thereon,

gravity below the rings to where it will not impede progress in removing and installation of 7 new travelers, stop means for limiting downward movement of the member, said ring rail having a plurality of lubricant passageways for admitting lubricant from the exterior of the ring rail to said annular wells.

12. Apparatus for lubricating the rings and travelers in a ring rail comprising a member mounted below and vertically movable with relation to the ring rail; said member having a plurality of annular lubricant recesses therein adapted to fit around but in spaced relation to the lower edges of the ring when in raised position and adapted to becompletely removed from the lower edge of the ring rail when in lowered position, stop means for limiting downward movement of the member, and means for holding said member in elevated position.

13. Apparatus for lubricating the rings and travelers in a ring rail comprising a member mounted below and vertically movable with relation to the ring rail, said member having a mu raiity of annular lubricant recesses therein adapted to flt around but in spaced relation to the lower edges of the rings when in raised position and adapted to be completely removed from 

